NHER 43450 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - The site of a medieval post mill, possibly cut into an earlier Bronze Age round barrow, Bradwell

March 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a medieval post mill, possibly cut into an earlier Bronze Age round barrow, is visible on aerial photographs as cropmarks, soilmarks and earthworks within arable land in Bradwell (S1-S2). The site is now the location of Dorothy Avenue. The cropmarks and soilmarks indicate that a large circular or C-shaped mound has been cut into and a central pit is visible. It is possible that this is a Bronze Age round barrow with a central burial cut. However this site has many of the characteristics associated with a medieval post mill mounds and the site may date entirely to this period. This post mill is located within an area of post medieval fields (NHER 43451), also visible as cropmarks. Two other ring ditches, interpreted as Bronze Age round barrows, are located within 350m to the east and west (NHER 43448-9). At least one of these barrows has also been reused as a post mill mound (NHER 43448), with a cross-shaped slot being cut into the centre of the ditch.

The ring ditch is centred on TG 5045 0429 and measures 23.5m in diameter. The ditch is quite wide, approximately 2m across. The cropmarks show the circuit is not complete, with three causeways visible along the ditch (S1). It is possible that at least one of these gaps is original as a ditch kinks out to the east at this point. The central mound is visible as a lighter soilmark forming a broad C-shaped feature, up to 17m across (S2). Within the centre of the C-shaped mound is an angular and square-shaped pit, 2m across, with a ditch continuing to the west, forming an L-shape. The mound is still visible as a slight earthwork in 1953 (S2), although the raised area is approximately 26m across, much larger than the cropmarks indicate the mound and surrounding ring ditch being in size. This is likely to be due to the spreading of the mound material by the plough.

The central pit may represent an original burial cut, with the mound of a Bronze Age barrow being placed on top. However the positioning of this central pit within a C-shaped mound could indicate that the mound was originally circular and it has been cut into it at a later date. This could represent a secondary internment also taking place during the Bronze Age or at a later date. However this site has many features which would normally be associated with a medieval or post medieval post mill site. These are often characterised by broad, 2-3m wide, ring ditches, approximately 25m in diameter and with 2 or 3 causeways or entrances (S3: p108). This description fits well with the dimensions and plan of the above monument. The central angular slot and ditch may represent the base of the cut for the mill, rather than a burial. The lack of any clearly defined cross-shaped cut, as at NHER 43448 to the northwest, may be due to the slot being cut into a higher mound and therefore not producing a positive cropmark. The widest causeway to the southeast may also represent a main entrance to them mill, this is also suggested by the ditch segment perpendicular to the ring. It is still possible that the site is originally a Bronze Age round barrow that has been later modified to form a mill mound. However given that the site displays so many of the typical characteristics of a medieval post mill mound (S3: p108), it is possible that the site dates in it’s entirety to the medieval or post medieval period. The fact that the mound still survives as an earthwork in the 1950s could also indicate a later date, as the other possible Bronze Age barrow sites in close proximity are all plough levelled by this date.

The former location of this site is number 32 and 34 Dorothy Avenue, Bradwell.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2006.